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Radiographer - Job Profile, Duties & Responsibilities
Diagnostic radiographers
use X-ray, ultrasound, fluoroscopy, computerised tomography (CT), magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine and angiography, to produce
images of organs and other body parts.
Who Is A
Diagnostic Radiographer?
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Diagnostic
Radiographers assist in the diagnosis of injuries and diseases, and
contribute towards establishing treatment plans. They are also involved in
intervention procedures, such as the removal of kidney stones.
Radiographers perform
X-ray examinations on patients in a variety of clinical settings.
These examinations can vary from a simple hand X-ray to an examination of
the kidneys after contrast media is injected. Radiographers work in
outpatient clinical settings, perform complex procedures in surgery, and
work in hospitals performing examinations on patients of all ages.
Diagnostic radiographers employ a range of sophisticated equipment
to produce high quality images to diagnose an injury or disease.
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They
use a range of techniques including:
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X-rays– to look through tissue to examine bones, cavities and
foreign objects;
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Ultrasound – uses high frequency sound and is increasingly used
due to its versatility in obstetrics, including fetal monitoring
throughout pregnancy, gynaecology, abdominal, paediatrics, cardiac,
vascular and musculo-skeletal;
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Fluoroscopy – to image the digestive system providing a live
motion x-ray;
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CT (computed tomography) – which provides cross-sectional views
(slices) of the body;
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MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) – builds a 2-D or 3-D map of
different tissue types within the body;
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Nuclear medicine – this uses radioactive tracers which can be
administered to examine how the body and organs function, for example the
kidneys or heart. Certain radioisotopes can also be administered to treat
particular cancers eg thyroid cancer.
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Angiography – to investigate blood
vessels
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Bone mineral densitometry - to assess the mineral content in
the bones to detect the fragility of bones
The Diagnostic
Radiographer is required to use clinical reasoning skills in making
decisions regarding the nature and extent of individual procedures. They
are trained to recognize the normal and abnormal appearances of anatomy
and pathology in order to initiate supplementary techniques to assist the
health practitioner reach a definitive diagnosis and provide when
requested an informed opinion to the referring health practitioner
regarding the results of procedures, which assists the health practitioner
in arriving at a correct diagnosis. The diagnostic radiographer is
responsible for the comfort and well-being of patients whilst they are in
their care.
Courses In Diagnostic Radiography, India
In India diploma,
degree and postgraduate courses are there in this field. Also students can under
go specialization in a particular diagnostic radiography field.
Job
Opportunities In Radiography, India
There is currently a strong demand for
diagnostic radiographers, both in the public and private sector. Graduates
have the opportunity to accept positions in capital cities, rural and
remote locations and, internationally.
Diagnostic
radiographers have the opportunity to work in a variety of medical
imaging clinical environments, some of which are general in nature and
provide a broad spectrum of imaging modalities and patient presentations.
Other clinical environments can be specialized such as in children's
hospitals, geriatric, spinal injury and the defense forces. Diagnostic radiographers
also have the opportunity to specialize in an imaging modality such as
ultrasound, CT, MRI, etc. Diagnostic radiographers provide a service for
most departments of a hospital, including accident and emergency,
outpatients clinics, operating theatres, intensive care units, and general
wards.
Career mobility for radiographers is excellent. With further
education or experience, opportunities exist for advancement in education,
management and additional imaging modalities. Recruitment agencies are
also able to place newly qualified and experienced diagnostic
radiographers into employment.
Contributing Writer
: Jayakumar. A Lecturer, Faculty of Allied
Health Sciences, Directorate of Distance Education, Sikkim Manipal
University, Manipal-576104
jayakumar.a@manipalu.com
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